Car Review: 2011 Kia Forte sedan

2011 model sees upgrades

By Graeme Fletcher, Postmedia News

Originally published: March 10, 2011

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The compact car segment in Canada is the most competitive going. Not only does it include a bevy of contenders — notably the perennially successful Honda Civic and Mazda3 — it has been growing very quickly as of late. New entrants include the Chevrolet Cruze, revamped Hyundai Elantra and soon-to-be-launched Ford Focus. The choice is bewildering to say the least.

Look beyond the usual suspects and there’s the Kia Forte. A newbie when it debuted in 2009 as a 2010 model, this car’s initial reviews were positive. In fact, there were only a couple of minor beefs. For 2011, these have been addressed and there’s a bevy of other significant upgrades. Along with a new front grille and fascia and an upgraded centre stack/console inside come new shock absorbers and — in the never-ending quest for fuel efficiency — two new transmissions. The base manual gearbox now earns six speeds, as does the more popular automatic — that’s an increase of one and two gears, respectively.

The difference the extra ratios make to the manner in which the Forte drives, especially the automatic-equipped model, is enormous. The first four gears bring noticeably better pull off the line and on through the mid-range, while the top two ease the engine’s revs when cruising the highway — 100 kilometres an hour arrives at an extremely easy 2,000 rpm. The blend increases the car’s overall sense of refinement.

The second reason the automatic box alters the driving perception is the fact it is very well sorted. Many six-speed boxes tend to be rather indecisive, which shows up as an overwhelming desire to upshift at the earliest opportunity as well as delayed kickdowns. Not so with the Forte’s transmission It somehow manages to find the right gear each and every time. Roll onto the throttle and it steps down a gear smartly. Hit it a little harder and it will drop two or three gears if that’s what’s demanded. As I say, it is very well sorted and without peer at the Forte’s end of the price ladder.

Combine this willing new box with the Forte’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder and there’s surprising performance at the driver’s beck and call. The variable valve timing and variable intake manifold combine to deliver 156 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque. When teamed with the old four-speed automatic, the Forte ambled its way to 100 km/h in 10.4 seconds. Replay the race to 100 km/h with the new box aboard and the time tumbles to 8.6 seconds. It also accomplishes the 80-to-120-km/h passing move in 6.1 seconds, which is about a second faster than with the four-speed. In short, the car’s acceleration times are at the forefront of the compact class. More impressive is the fact that highway fuel consumption drops by 0.3 litres per 100 km to 5.5 L/100 km at the same time.

Since its introduction, the Forte has been praised for its nimble handling — the Mac-Pherson struts and rear twist beam combine to limit body roll in a reassuring manner. However, not all was hunky-dory — some complained the handling came at the expense of overall ride comfort, especially on rougher roads.

For those into European-like rides, this aspect was not a big problem. However, the handling advantage was lost on those looking for a softer ride. The new mono-tube rear shock absorbers address these issues.

In a nutshell, the shocks soften the ride without meaningfully impinging on the handling characteristics. As such, the Forte sedan hunkers down and, while there is some initial roll, it loops around an on-ramp with commendable solidity and balance.

Similarly, the steering’s feedback is first-rate and the response is crisp despite the more compliant ride. Throw in P205/55R16 tires and understeer remains at arm’s length even as the enthusiasm of the drive rises.

Inside, the Forte again betters the segment norm — its simple uncluttered form is one of the pluses. The revised centre stack is now finished in a richer plastic with piano black inserts. Visually, it is much more appealing. If there is a nit to pick, it’s that the plastic on the door panels, though nicely textured, is still rather hard.

Where things are better than expected is in the list of standard equipment. Along with the usual power items come heated front seats, handy USB/auxiliary inputs and voice-activated Bluetooth. In many instances, these items are optional on the competition. As for the rest of it, the Forte’s front seats are comfortably bolstered, the driver’s seat is height adjustable and the steering both tilts and telescopes, which means the Forte easily accommodates differently sized drivers. Likewise, there is enough rear-seat space to accommodate two adults and a suitably large trunk (14.7 cubic feet).

The Forte’s revisions would be noteworthy for a car undergoing a mid-life refreshing. The fact the upgrades arrive on a car that’s barely a year old speaks volumes. The improved ride quality and new automatic transmission serve to vault the Forte to the head of the class. Factor in the overall value and it represents an exceptional buy.